Daily Devotional

-February 14, 2021-

Happy Lord’s Day, Happy Valentine’s Day

-The Testimony Of Love-

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.”

(John 13:34-35).

Jesus spoke these words to His disciples in the upper room before He went to the cross and died for their sins, our sins, and the sins of the world. He proved His love in the greatest way possible. These words are part of Upper Room Discourse in John chapters 13-17.

Jesus said in John 15:14, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” Jesus always taught His disciples by word, by deed, and by example. He now calls on them to love one another as He loved them. Though love is taught in the OT, in a sense it is a new commandment given to them from Him to carry on. It would become the the calling card of the early Christians and is still true today.

It is a high standard to love others as He has loved us. We know from some many other verses that it is only possible through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. John certainly carried this theme of love in his writings. Paul and Peter also had much to say about love. In 1 Corinthians 16:14, Paul wrote, “Let all that you do be done in love.” In, fact, the whole Bible is “God’s Love Letter to man.”

After our Savior gave them the commandment, standard, and example of love, He then gave them the challenge to love. Three times He uses the word love and once the word loved in these two verses. He says, “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” The little word “all” means everyone saved and unsaved.

We know that message came across clearly to the Jews and to the Gentiles. Acts 4:13 says, “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.” The message of the gospel is best preached through vessels of love and devotion.

Our testimony of love is beautiful and powerful when we point people to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We must show them His love. Others can argue our doctrine but they cannot argue our changed lives. Jesus makes all the difference. When our actions shown in love back up our words, it is a powerful testimony. Conversely, if they don’t, we come across as hypocrites.

May the Lord help us to love others as He loves us. The greatest complement we may receive on earth is that they can see Jesus in our lives. Have a wonderful Valentine’s Day.

Have a blessed day loving others and showing them what Jesus has done in our lives. Stay safe and healthy.

Dean